Public Notice: Burwood Landfill

Summary: A new rule, WQL45A, in the Environment Canterbury’s Natural Resources Regional Plan provides for Burwood Landfill to be used as a permanent disposal site for earthquake waste (residual demolition waste, liquefaction silt and infrastructure waste). Provided conditions are complied with, resource consent applications will be for a non-notified controlled activity. Other amendments to this document explain the rule and exempt Burwood Landfill from existing restrictions.

The amendments to the Christchurch City Plan likewise provide for a non-notified controlled activity for use of Burwood Landfill for disposal of earthquake waste. Both plans will require an applicant for resource consent to obtain feedback from identified affected parties.

As a result of these amendments, truck movements will be reduced and the life of Kate Valley landfill will be extended. The hydro-geological attributes of the Burwood Landfill site (20 metres of fine sediment separating the landfill from the first confined aquifer and an upward hydraulic pressure gradient) mean the risk of contamination of groundwater is very low.

Date published: Thursday 24 November 2011 in The Press.

Date it takes effect: Thursday 24 November 2011

Related information:

• Canterbury Natural Resources Regional Plan (NRRP)
• Christchurch City Plan: Burwood Landfill - Text amendments to the City Plan
• Beehive announcement: Recycling of earthquake waste to be maximised 23 November 2011

The Notice

Pursuant to section 27(1)(a) of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011, the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery gives the following notice:

Environment Canterbury’s Natural Resources Regional Plan (Chapter 4) is amended from the publication of this notice by:

(a) amending Policy WQL9(1)(b) and Explanation and principal reasons for Policy WQL9;

(b) adding a new Rule WQL45A with explanation and additional information requirements, including information to be provided with resource consent applications;

(c) amending Table WQL8 Index of rules;

(d) consequentially amending Rule WQL45 and Rule WQL3;

(e) consequentially amending other provisions to include references to the new Rule WQL45A; and

(f) amending Map Volume, Part 1, Planning Map A-C06.

Christchurch City Council’s district plan is amended from the publication of this notice by:

(a) amending Volume 1, Chapter 3 The issues for Christchurch, Part 3.16 Utilities, 3.16.4 Solid wastes;

(b) adding to Volume 3, Part 1 Definitions a definition of “earthquake waste”;

(c) amending Volume 3, Part 8 Special Purposes Zones, 1.7 Special Purpose (Landfill) Zone;

(d) amending Volume 3, Part 8 Special Purposes Zones, 7.1 Categories of activities;

(e) amending Volume 3, Part 8 Special Purposes Zones, 7.2 Critical standards;

(f) amending Volume 3, Part 8 Special Purposes Zones, 13.6 Special Purpose (Landfill) Zone;

(g) amending Volume 3, Part 11 Health and Safety by adding Rule 1.3.4(e) Special Purpose (Landfill) Zone;

(h) amending Volume 3, Part 13 Transport, 2.3 Development Standards by adding Rule 2.3.8(c) Special Purpose (Landfill) Zone; and

(i) amending Volume 3, Part 13 Transport, 4.0 Reasons for Rules, 4.14 High Traffic Generators.

The amendments to the text and the replacement map can be viewed on the CERA website at... [details at Canterbury Natural Resources Regional Plan (NRRP)]

Hon Gerry Brownlee, Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery